Vista advice sought

Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
I'm ready to roll.

But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.

I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?

By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to Linux.
I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.
--
Bystander

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"Bystander" <> wrote in message
news:eq0tnl$f07$...
> Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
> new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
> I'm ready to roll.
>
> But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
> Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
> US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
>
> I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
> High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
> worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
> DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
>
> By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to Linux.
> I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.
> --
> Bystander

You should contact Microsoft, as they are the ones that you are buying the
product from. I am sure they would know the answer.

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On Feb 2, 8:16 pm, "Rob" <> wrote:
> > Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
> > new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
> > I'm ready to roll.
>
> > But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
> > Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
> > US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
>
> > I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
> > High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
> > worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
> > DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
>
> > By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to Linux.
> > I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.
>
> You should contact Microsoft, as they are the ones that you are buying the
> product from. I am sure they would know the answer.

I would be inclined to contact the creator of the software called DVD
Region-Free, and ask them if it is supported on Windows Vista

Microsoft does not know the application compatibility status of every
single piece of software out there

In article <1170475924.748901@ftpsrv1>, "Rob" <> wrote:
> "Bystander" <> wrote in message
> news:eq0tnl$f07$...
> > Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
> > new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
> > I'm ready to roll.
> >
> > But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
> > Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
> > US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
> >
> > I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
> > High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
> > worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
> > DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
> >
> > By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to Linux.
> > I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.
> > --
> > Bystander
>
> You should contact Microsoft, as they are the ones that you are buying the
> product from. I am sure they would know the answer.

and tell them that in New Zealand DVD players are region free because it
is legal to do so..... and that zoned DVD players do NOT sell.

"whoisthis" <> wrote in message
news:...
> In article <1170475924.748901@ftpsrv1>, "Rob" <> wrote:
>
>> "Bystander" <> wrote in message
>> news:eq0tnl$f07$...
>> > Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
>> > new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
>> > I'm ready to roll.
>> >
>> > But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
>> > Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
>> > US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
>> >
>> > I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
>> > High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
>> > worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
>> > DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
>> >
>> > By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to
>> > Linux.
>> > I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.
>> > --
>> > Bystander
>>
>> You should contact Microsoft, as they are the ones that you are buying
>> the
>> product from. I am sure they would know the answer.
>
> and tell them that in New Zealand DVD players are region free because it
> is legal to do so..... and that zoned DVD players do NOT sell.

It is not illegal for NZ businesses to sell region free DVD players. I
purchased one from Farmers and DSE and the warehouse sell region free
players.

"Rob" <> wrote in message news:1170484660.474476@ftpsrv1...
>
> "whoisthis" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> In article <1170475924.748901@ftpsrv1>, "Rob" <> wrote:
>>
>>> "Bystander" <> wrote in message
>>> news:eq0tnl$f07$...
>>> > Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
>>> > new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
>>> > I'm ready to roll.
>>> >
>>> > But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
>>> > Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
>>> > US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
>>> >
>>> > I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
>>> > High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
>>> > worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely
>>> > watch
>>> > DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
>>> >
>>> > By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to
>>> > Linux.
>>> > I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.
>>> > --
>>> > Bystander
>>>
>>> You should contact Microsoft, as they are the ones that you are buying
>>> the
>>> product from. I am sure they would know the answer.
>>
>> and tell them that in New Zealand DVD players are region free because it
>> is legal to do so..... and that zoned DVD players do NOT sell.
>
> It is not illegal for NZ businesses to sell region free DVD players. I
> purchased one from Farmers and DSE and the warehouse sell region free
> players.

It is not illegal for NZ businesses to sell Region 4 only players either.

Very unlikely for Mincrosoft US to support region free zones. Multi zone
works well enough on XP only people with Vista will ever know if they can
free the region lock for good or not.

In article <1170484660.474476@ftpsrv1>, "Rob" <> wrote:
> "whoisthis" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > In article <1170475924.748901@ftpsrv1>, "Rob" <> wrote:
> >
> >> "Bystander" <> wrote in message
> >> news:eq0tnl$f07$...
> >> > Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
> >> > new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
> >> > I'm ready to roll.
> >> >
> >> > But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
> >> > Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
> >> > US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
> >> >
> >> > I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
> >> > High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
> >> > worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
> >> > DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
> >> >
> >> > By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to
> >> > Linux.
> >> > I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.
> >> > --
> >> > Bystander
> >>
> >> You should contact Microsoft, as they are the ones that you are buying
> >> the
> >> product from. I am sure they would know the answer.
> >
> > and tell them that in New Zealand DVD players are region free because it
> > is legal to do so..... and that zoned DVD players do NOT sell.
>
> It is not illegal for NZ businesses to sell region free DVD players. I
> purchased one from Farmers and DSE and the warehouse sell region free
> players.

"Bystander" <> wrote in message
news:eq0tnl$f07$...
> Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
> new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
> I'm ready to roll.
>
> But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
> Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
> US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
>
> I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
> High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
> worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
> DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
>
> By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to Linux.
> I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.
> --
> Bystander

If you have no luck with Vista support, you could try a hardware solution as
follows:

For the price of a couple of DVDs you could purchase a region-free DVD
player for your PC.
If you can't find a region-free player, then it may be possible to install a
cheap second DVD player and assign a different region code to it.

Bystander wrote:
> Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
> new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
> I'm ready to roll.
>
> But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
> Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
> US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
>
> I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
> High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
> worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
> DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
>
> By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to Linux.
> I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.

In article <45c46c4d$>, Earl Grey <> wrote:
> Bystander wrote:
> > Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
> > new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
> > I'm ready to roll.
> >
> > But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
> > Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
> > US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
> >
> > I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
> > High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
> > worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
> > DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
> >
> > By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to Linux.
> > I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.
>
> VLC runs on Vista and doesn't care about regions.

On Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:41:47 +1300, Phil wrote:
>> and tell them that in New Zealand DVD players are region free because it
>> is legal to do so..... and that zoned DVD players do NOT sell.
>
> How is it illegal to sell them (where in the law does it say this)?
> Several people have told me this, but I haven't been able to actually
> find the source of it.

It is illegal to sell region-locked DVD players here in NZ because a DVD
should be playable in ANY DVD player that claims to conform to the DVD
standard, and likewise a DVD player should be able to play ANY DVD that
claims to conform to the DVD standard.

Dianthus Mimulus wrote, On 4/02/07 1.12 p:
> On Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:41:47 +1300, Phil wrote:
>
>>> and tell them that in New Zealand DVD players are region free because it
>>> is legal to do so..... and that zoned DVD players do NOT sell.
>> How is it illegal to sell them (where in the law does it say this)?
>> Several people have told me this, but I haven't been able to actually
>> find the source of it.
>
> It is illegal to sell region-locked DVD players here in NZ because a DVD
> should be playable in ANY DVD player that claims to conform to the DVD
> standard, and likewise a DVD player should be able to play ANY DVD that
> claims to conform to the DVD standard.
>

That wasn't my question. Where in the legislation does it make it
illegal to sell region-locked devices?

Bystander wrote:
> Well, I'm just about ready for an upgrade to Vista now: a 2GHz CPU, a
> new Microsoft-approved NVidia card, 2GB RAM, adequate hard disk space;
> I'm ready to roll.
>
> But one thing stays my hand: I run a piece of software called DVD
> Region-Free on my XP PC so that I can use the PC to watch DVD from the
> US and UK as well as our region 4 DVDs.
>
> I understand that Vista's DRM is insanely oppressive when it comes to
> High Definition video formats, but that doesn't yet concern me. I am
> worried though, that if I install Vista I won't be able to freely watch
> DVDs. Does anyone know what the story is here?
>
> By the way, please don't waste my time by telling me to switch to Linux.
> I get all the *nix I want from my Macs, thanks.

Slightly OT but I am curious - why are you upgrading from XP to Vista?

Dianthus Mimulus wrote:
> On Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:20:31 +1300, Phil wrote:
>
>> That wasn't my question. Where in the legislation does it make it
>> illegal to sell region-locked devices?
>
> The Consumer Guarantees Act makes it illegal to sell anything not fit for
> the purpose for which it is being sold.
>
> A DVD player that cannot play a DVD from any region is illegal in NZ.
>
>
That's not what the law provides.

Philip <> wrote:
>Dianthus Mimulus wrote:
>> On Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:20:31 +1300, Phil wrote:
>>
>>> That wasn't my question. Where in the legislation does it make it
>>> illegal to sell region-locked devices?
>>
>> The Consumer Guarantees Act makes it illegal to sell anything not fit for
>> the purpose for which it is being sold.
>>
>> A DVD player that cannot play a DVD from any region is illegal in NZ.
>>
>>
>That's not what the law provides.
>
>Our parallel importing law allows individuals and companies to bypass
>proprietary lock-ins imposed by manufacturers.
>
>That includes the DVD region codes.
>
>Retailers are free to sell any kind of DVD player they like, including
>one with enforced region codes and one without.
>
>The market has made its choices.
>
>Incidentally, if there were no region codes there would be far less
>piracy of DVD product.
>
>Philip

How do you work that out?? Regional coding has nothing to do with
piracy but lots to do with price gouging marketing..

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